A hat-trick from Andres Silva could be an indicator that Christiano Ronaldo has found a goal-scoring partner ahead of 2018 world cup.
Silva punished sloppy defending from the hosts with a 12th-minute strike and 22nd-minute header before completing his treble by adding a side-footed effort eight minutes prior to the break.
After Ronaldo scored four in a 6-0 win over Andorra on Friday, Silva stepped up to ensure Portugal took maximum points from the traditional minnows in Group B.
Teenage wunderkind Renato Sanches, winner of the Best Young Player award at Euro 2016, remained on the bench but will surely be an automatic pick in Fernando Santos’ side when he finds his feet at Bayern Munich.
He will likely do so alongside Inter Milan’s Joao Mario and Barcelona’s Andre Gomes, both 23, or William Carvalho, who seems almost like the veteran at the age of 24.
Portugal rose to second place in the standings over the previously unbeaten Faeroese, who had yet to concede a goal in two qualifiers.
“Since I have been playing for the national team, there have never been so many high-quality young players available,” Ronaldo said before Euro 2016.